DIFC Posts Record H1 2025 Performance, Cementing Dubai’s Financial Role

Dubai, UAE – 28 July 2025 – Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) delivered its strongest-ever results for the first half of a calendar year, underpinning Dubai’s economic strategy under the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and reinforcing the centre’s status as a global financial powerhouse.

During H1 2025, DIFC welcomed a record 1,081 new registered companies, elevating its active company total to 7,700, a 25% increase from H1 2024. The centre’s workforce also expanded by 9%, reaching 47,901 professionals.

Finance Cluster Expansion Across the Board

Financial services authorisations rose 28%, with 78 approvals compared to 61 in H1 2024. DIFC’s banking and capital markets cluster grew 17%, now housing 289 companies. The wealth & asset management sector rose 19%, hosting 440 firms. Notably, hedge funds soared by 72%, with 85 now operating within DIFC. Over 10,000 funds are managed or marketed from the centre.

The FinTech and innovation ecosystem expanded by 28%, rising from 1,081 to 1,388 firms. Non-financial entities surged by the same rate to 6,335 total active firms, up from 4,935 in 2024, underscoring DIFC’s broad sectoral attraction.

By end-2024, gross written premiums rose to USD 3.5 billion, up from USD 2.6 billion—a 35% rise. The number of insurance-related firms in DIFC rose to 135, growing

H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and President of DIFC, said, “The unprecedented results that DIFC continues to achieve across all fronts are a direct reflection of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai - a vision focused on positioning Dubai at the forefront of the world’s most advanced financial centres.

Dubai has entered a new and greater phase of growth, and these results highlight the competitiveness, attractiveness, and global confidence it enjoys. We firmly believe the future holds even more opportunities, and we will continue to strengthen DIFC’s capabilities and its ecosystems that foster innovation, agility, and business growth.”

DIFC’s Governor Essa Kazim added, “DIFC remains the driving force behind Dubai’s economic growth, as a key enabler of the financial services sector’s expansion and diversification. Our consistent performance across all key sectors and rising global standing are evidence of our commitment to supporting innovation, attracting global capital, and reinforcing Dubai’s status as one of the world’s most competitive and diversified economies.”

Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority, noted, “In H1 2025, DIFC has exceeded expectations across every metric. Our strong performance demonstrates the power of our ecosystem, the scale of our platform, and the depth of expertise we bring to the industry. We remain committed to transforming the future of finance from Dubai and advancing our position as the region’s number one global financial centre.”

Global Ranking & Real Estate Relevance

Dubai is now listed among eight global cities with “broad and deep” financial capabilities, ranking highly in FinTech (5), investment management (8), and business environment (10) on the Global Financial Centres Index.

DIFC’s real estate ventures also showed strength: its recent DIFC Heights r“In H1 2025, DIFC has exceeded expectations across every metric. Our strong performance demonstrates the power of our ecosystem, the scale of our platform, and the depth of expertise we bring to the industry. We remain committed to transforming the future of finance from Dubai and advancing our position as the region’s number one global financial centre.” esidential project sold out in just three days, while 1.6 million sq ft of commercial space is under development, due for delivery from Q1 2026.

DIFC also launched a publicly accessible real estate data platform, aligning with Dubai Real Estate Strategy 2033, and proposed new Variable Capital Company regulations to enhance investment structuring.

DIFC Driving Economic Diversification under D33

The centre's H1 performance reflects Dubai’s accelerating diversification—combining financial services, innovation, legal reform, real estate infrastructure, and human capital development. With ambitious plans on the horizon, DIFC is emblematic of the city's broader mission: to become a top‑tier global economy by 2033 under the D33 agenda.